David Leggat: Biggest hitters keep their powder dry

An intriguing week at the world Twenty20 championship, and New Zealand are in the frame going to the business end.

So the best could be yet to come, as New Zealand chases only a second International Cricket Council trophy to sit alongside the 2000 Champions Trophy gathering dust at HQ in Christchurch.

But as the games toddled along over the weekend, a thought occurred.

Just when you assumed the best players played the most prominent part in the games, there was Australian captain Michael Clarke neither batting nor bowling in the big win over India.

Australia used seven batsmen. One of the world's premier batsmen sat through it all in the pavilion.

His flat left-arm spin is often useful, but he didn't feel the need to mark out his run-up. Call it captaincy by delegation.

Then there was Lasith Malinga, he of the action so round umpires face getting clouted on the left elbow in his delivery stride.

Malinga was the sixth bowler used by Sri Lanka in their win over the West Indies.

But there's a method here. One of the finest short-game bowlers around made up for it by taking three for 28 in the latter stages.

Or take his old teammate - and that's not being unkind - Sanath Jayasuriya.

The commentators should be referring to the 40-year-old with suitable deference as he's now a member of his country's parliament.

Once among the most dangerous openers in the game - and a pioneer of the early-overs ODI blast - he was at No 7 against New Zealand and No 8 against Zimbabwe.

Strange days, but doubtless it's all done to a plan. It's a sign of a growing tactical appreciation among the Twenty20 leaders.

Remember the pre-event talk that slow was the way to go in bowling terms? Well, seven of the top 10 wicket takers as of last night were fast-medium, or above.

Australia's bearded left-arm quick, Dirk Nannes, with 10, was top of the heap. Who'd have picked it?

Meanwhile up in the commentary box, David "Bumble" Lloyd is playing a blinder.

Day after day, the former England opener and coach is full of fun. Not that hard, you'd suspect. This could be one of the easier gigs going.

"Go on son, don't stop," he'll chirp at the sight of a boundary dancer jiggling in all the right, or wrong, places. Shame there's a bit of cricket in between to muck up his day.

Speaking of which, "You've got to see the Lions", offered by a colleague with an impish wit last week, was a dare too hard to resist.

As they were playing the Blues in Johannesburg, it seemed the right time.

For some reason, the last-placed Lions (and last doesn't do them justice) had escaped this pair of eyes throughout the Super 14.

Yesterday, if you'd fired a howitzer into the stands at Ellis Park, no one would have got a scratch. It was deserted. That was the first clue.

The Blues scored a couple of tries in the first few minutes, which confirmed the second point, that the Lions have mastered the art of non-contact rugby.

Remember February, when they lost 72-65 to the Chiefs?

The 72, even by the Chiefs, is now fathomable, but the Lions' 65 remains up there with the Bermuda Triangle as a great unsolved mystery.

It was 24-14 at halftime, and lo and behold, the two Lions tries had been scored by that old Blues rascal, Carlos Spencer.

He looked a bit grumpy throughout too - understandable given that he's the assistant coach of this collection of no-hopers and never-will-bes.

The Blues won the second half 32-0, but then came the funny part.

After the game, Blues captain Jerome Kaino faced someone holding a microphone and said of the Lions - and I swear this is not made up - "The Lions put us under pressure ... they're a great side."

These eyes searched in vain for a twitch at the corner of the mouth, a little playful wink which would have given the game away.

No, this was Kaino the Diplomat.

Just once, wouldn't it be a treat to see a captain pitch up and tell it like it is - "The other lot were rubbish. We should have duffed them by more."

In another life, maybe.

Weekend winner:

* Ian Butler, who answered his captain's call with a smart final over, and three for 19 off his four overs altogether, as New Zealand sneaked home by one run in a T20 thriller against Pakistan

One to watch:

* Can't go past New Zealand's final Super Eight game against England early tomorrow. The semifinals are beckoning.